The tour comes in support of Bryan’s 2017 studio album, “What Makes You Country,” a No.1 Billboard 200 release. The album features country radio singles “Light It Up,” “Most People Are Good” and “Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset.” Bryan last brought his show to Iowa in July, a headlining slot at the Great Jones County Fair.

Ahead of launching the tour, Bryan took a handful of media questions Tuesday via phone. Read highlights from the conversation below.

Back to Iowa

Bryan first brought the Farm Tour to Iowa in 2017, pulling and estimated sold-out crowd of 20,000 to the Ziel Farm. He played 23 songs during the visit, a two-hour show.

What went into his decision to bring the tour back to Iowa for an encore year?

“I learned that I may find some Iowa farm land so I can deer hunt up in Iowa more,” he said. “No, I’m playin’.”

He continued: “The first year that we did Boone, Iowa, it may have been our biggest crowd we ever had at Farm Tour. Just the energy. I tell you nothing’ can replicate bein’ in the heart of the heartland. Bein’ out there in Iowa in corn country. It was really special, really magical. I remember being on stage that night in Boone and my first thought was ‘Oh, goodness. We’re immediately comin’ back next year.’ … As long as Iowa will have us back and, certainly, Boone, Iowa will have us back, we’ll be on top of that.”

Friends and country music fans (from left) Laura Bakke of Forest City, Mikayla Walker of Clarion, Kjerstin Hulke of Lake Mills, and Aubrey Davis of Clarion pose for a photo before making their way to see Luke Bryan's Farm Tour concert in Boone on Friday, Sept. 30, 2017. Bryon Houlgrave/The Register

Country music fans (from left) Kennedy Gallentine of Dayton, Theresa Fitzgerald of Boone, Emma Clausen of Ogden, and Katie Peterson of Dayton pose for a photo while tailgating in the parking lot before the Luke Bryan concert in Boone on Friday, Sept. 30, 2017. Bryon Houlgrave/The Register

Ashton Clemons of Boone raises a U.S. flag from the back of a truck as his friends have fun tailgating in the parking lot before the Luke Bryan concert in Boone on Friday, Sept. 30, 2017. Bryon Houlgrave/The Register

Ashton Clemons of Boone raises a U.S. flag from the back of a truck as his friends have fun tailgating in the parking lot before the Luke Bryan concert in Boone on Friday, Sept. 30, 2017. Bryon Houlgrave/The Register

10 years of Farm Tour

This fall marks the Farm Tour’s 10th trip through rural America. What plans does Bryan have to commemorate the anniversary?

“When I get on stage and start enjoying the crowd and havin’ fun and interactin’ with everybody, there’s no tellin’ what will happen,” Bryan said. “I do have some special guests comin’ out in Georgia and Iowa that you’ll hear about. I don’t wanna let the cat outta the bag yet.”

Free time on the farm

How does he spend time between shows?Nashville songwriting group The Peach Pickers opens the show. Bryan said he spends time between stops work shopping new numbers; tracks such as “Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day” and “Dirt Road Diary” were written during the tour.

“We hold up on the bus and try and write songs,” he said. “The vibe and the inspiration from bein’ in the small towns through the years … we’ve had some really, really amazing success writing on Farm Tour. It’s really something through the years that’s become a tradition of ours.”

Local donations

Farm Tour plans to give back to the communities it plays, with tour sponsor Bayer planning to offer a $2,000 grant to the Des Moines Area Religious Council food bank at the Iowa show. Nationally, Bayer plans to donate a meal for every social media post using the hashtag #HeresToTheFarmer during the tour.

Bryan also hopes to honor a local farmer on stage during each of his performances on Farm Tour. His thoughts on commemorating local farmers ...

“Tryin’ to be a farmer year after year is so tough,” Bryan said. “Watchin’ these farmers enjoy a night of music on their farm, it’s very special. So many wonderful memories through the years and so much teamwork. We always wanna leave these farms and these communities a little bit better than we found ‘em.”